Chapter 12

“When I threw her lucky charm in the pool,” Viola said smugly, “she jumped right in after it. I told Ken it was just another attention-seeking ploy, and he believed me.” Her voice turned cold. “Too bad she didn’t drown that day.”

“Who exactly did you want to drown, Viola?” Ken’s icy voice silenced the room. Viola spun around, her face paling.

“I… I didn’t… You must have misheard…”

Her mother forced a smile. “Ken, you’re home! We were just discussing that recent drowning incident in the news…”

Ken ignored her, striding to Viola and grabbing her collar. “Who gave you permission to touch her things?”

Viola’s tears began to fall. “She’s moving out… The room was empty… I was just cleaning…”

Ken threw her to the ground before turning to the housekeeper. “Put everything back exactly as it was. If a single item is missing, you’re fired.”

The housekeeper scurried to obey.

Viola’s mother bristled. “How dare you treat my daughter this way over some shameless girl? Are you trying to flaunt your affair with Calista?”

Her words died as she met Ken’s furious gaze. “You may be rich, but you can’t abuse my daughter like this!”

Viola quickly intervened. “Mother, please go. Let me handle this.” She met her mother’s eye, and the older woman reluctantly left.

“Ken, I’m sorry,” Viola’s voice softened. “I wasn’t thinking. Calista is like your sister—as your wife, I should have been more understanding. We’ll return everything and keep her room as it was.”

Ken’s face darkened. “You disgust me, Viola.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “How could you say that?”

“I heard everything.” His hand shot out, gripping her throat. “You deliberately slandered her, targeted her, poisoned my mind against her—all to drive her away!”

Viola trembled, terrified by his rage. “No… you don’t understand…”

But Ken was beyond reason, his grief and rage fueling his grip. “If it weren’t for you, Calista would never have gone to the satellite base! If it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t have given up on me!” His voice cracked. “That day at the pool—you stopped me from reaching her. You almost let her die.”

Viola clawed at his hands, desperate for air but unable to speak.

Just as her vision began to fade, a shout rang out from the doorway.

Chapter 13